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Event brings international arbitration skills to lawyers, businesses

November 29, 2011

Event brings international arbitration skills to lawyers, businesses

Penn State Law is one of several organizations sponsoring an intensive ”Teach-In” on International Arbitration, overseas in Ramallah on Dec. 7 and 8. International and Palestinian arbitration scholars and experts will conduct sessions on topics ranging from the benefits of international arbitration for the local economy to how to negotiate and draft an international arbitration clause.

“This is a kick-off event for a larger series of initiatives that will aim at capacity-building and strengthening the Palestinian legal profession, judiciary and business professionals to enable them to participate more effectively in international arbitration,” said Catherine Rogers, Penn State Law professor and one of the organizers of the event. Rogers said the impetus for this event is the work of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Palestine with the ICC Israel and the Secretariat of the ICC in Paris to create a new Jerusalem Arbitration Center (JAC). The JAC will provide a neutral forum for resolution of commercial disputes that arise out of the estimated $4 billion in trade that occurs every year between Palestinians and Israelis, she added.

These initiatives also can bring benefits to the Palestinian economy and legal profession by creating relationships and promoting new skills and opportunities for Palestinian legal and business professionals. As Munib R. Masri, chairman of the Board of ICC Palestine and of PADICO Holding, puts it, “Attorneys and businesspersons who understand how international arbitration works will have many opportunities in the new Palestinian economy with members of ICC Israel and ICC Paris bringing the concept of 'peace through commerce' to life through the newly formed Jerusalem Arbitration Center.” (Read more about this initiative)

Penn State Law Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law and International Affairs Phil McConnaughay will offer discussions of the legal framework of international arbitration and the role of arbitration in promoting economic development and cross-cultural exchange.